The real spirit of Anzac

As the Anzac Day hoohah fades for another year, veterans associations are calling on the Federal Government to provide better mental health support services for soldiers returning from war in Iraq and Afghanistan, as they claim that a lack of specific counselling services and bureaucratic bungles are leading to unnecessary suicides.

“The Government’s trying to deny that it’s a major problem, they’re only admitting to two deaths, but veterans organisations are suggesting it could be up to five soldiers who have committed suicide,” he said.

“Politicians seem only too willing to stand on the docks and farewell troops to foreign wars but when soldiers come back suffering serious long-term illnesses, the politicians are nowhere to be seen.”

Dr Marr says some soldiers suffering from mental health problems such as post traumatic stress are sometimes dealing with three different government agencies.

“Quite often, soldiers get lost in bureaucratic buck passing, and frustrated by the bureaucracy,” he said.

“We believe that the Federal Government must set up an urgent counselling service specifically for returned soldiers from the Iraq war, so that we don’t have any more unnecessary suicides.”

What’s the matter with these people? Isn’t the honour of serving your country sufficient reward?